Highlands

[matt3001]

I have just bumped my orginal post in the holidays section, but thought I might get more ideas in here as well.

I go to Scotland on Friday following the route below; obviously I want to take in as many amazing roads as possible so I am looking for some inspiration....

Glasgow - Arrochar - Isle of Bute - Oban - Glen Coe - Plockton - Torridon - Plodda Falls - Inverness.

I would appreciate any ideas!

Edited: Just another query; what is fuel availability like? These roads are going to be (enjoyable so) thirst chenching so are their many petrol stations up there? Or is it just a case of when you see one stop and keep the tank brimmed because you dont know when you will next see one. Are prices reasonable up there, given the remote locations?

Edited by matt3001 on Monday 9th July 11:36

[GetCarter]

There is no fuel in Plockton or Torridon, but there is in Kyle of Lochalsh, Lochcarron and *most of the time* a self service (card only) pump in Applecross. As I mentioned on the other throad, don't miss out Applecross... do the 'loop' clockwise for the best views, most fun drive.

[vrsmxtb]

Got back yesterday and wow, what a trip.

The Highland roads took their toll with a knackered rear damper and snapped ARB droplink! But otherwise the MX5 was near perfect on these roads.

Pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151893...

[vrsmxtb]

matt3001 said:

I have just bumped my orginal post in the holidays section, but thought I might get more ideas in here as well.

I go to Scotland on Friday following the route below; obviously I want to take in as many amazing roads as possible so I am looking for some inspiration....

Glasgow - Arrochar - Isle of Bute - Oban - Glen Coe - Plockton - Torridon - Plodda Falls - Inverness.

I would appreciate any ideas!

Edited: Just another query; what is fuel availability like? These roads are going to be (enjoyable so) thirst chenching so are their many petrol stations up there? Or is it just a case of when you see one stop and keep the tank brimmed because you dont know when you will next see one. Are prices reasonable up there, given the remote locations?

Edited by matt3001 on Monday 9th July 11:36

You MUST take in the Applecross / Bealach Na Ba loop.

I can also highly recommend the A832 to Gairloch, the B869 loop (not fast but pretty), the A894 / A838 up to Durness but basically anything North of about Fort William is absolutely awesome. The routes on Steve's website are pretty much perfect. http://SteveCarter.com/bestuk.htm

For fuel, just fill up whenever you see any is my advice. If you go on ViaMichelin route planner it has an option that finds fuel stations, I just marked these on our map so we knew where they all were.

Edited by vrsmxtb on Monday 9th July 12:03

[matt3001]

vrsmxtb said:

Got back yesterday and wow, what a trip.

The Highland roads took their toll with a knackered rear damper and snapped ARB droplink! But otherwise the MX5 was near perfect on these roads.

Pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151893...

Great photos, what are the roads like currently with the rain? Anything to watch out for? Where was the Jim Clark memorial thing btw?

[vrsmxtb]

matt3001 said:

Great photos, what are the roads like currently with the rain? Anything to watch out for? Where was the Jim Clark memorial thing btw?

The roads were bone dry up there last week - no rain, just really warm sunshine hence the roof being off in every pic!!

Driving-wise just be considerate and very alert, in the far North there will only be a handful of tourist cars but some can be a bit erratic. Some of the locals will want to zoom past you so let them. Speed-wise the road surfaces are your limiting factor, even at 60 some of the roads really pushed the suspension to the max, so even if some of the straights and swooping bends tempt your right foot watch out for bumps and humps... and sheep!

The Jim Clark room is in Duns down in the Borders, only a single room but very neat and tidy and a good selevction of pics and trophies on display.

[GetCarter]

matt3001 said:

Great photos, what are the roads like currently with the rain? Anything to watch out for? Where was the Jim Clark memorial thing btw?

What rain? Sunniest June on record. They are considering bringing in water by Tankers.

If it ever does rain here we don't get floods as it's so 'bumpy' - water just runs off into the sea/ lochs.

[vrsmxtb]

For the record our eventual route was:

Day 1/2 - A1M / A1 to MX5 owners club trackday at Blyton Park.

Day 3 - A1 to Berwick, A6105 to Duns and Jim Clark room, B6355 to A1 Edinburgh.

Day 4 - M90, B914, A823 past Knockhill to Rumbling Bridge and Crieff, A85 to Crianlarich, A82 to Fort william, A87 to Shiel bridge, then Glenelg ferry to Skye (highly recommended), B8083 to Elgol and back (awesome view),A87 to Portree, A855 round to Uig.

Day 5 - A87, B8036, A850 to Sligachan via Nesit point (saw Minke whales and two Basking sharks), A87 vie Kyle of Lochalsh to Eilean Dornie castle. A890 to Achintee, A896 to Kishorn, Bealach Na Ba to Applecross (food at Applecross Inn is awesome) and full clockwise loop round, A896 to gairloch, B8021 to melvaig and on to Rua Reidh lighthouse.

Day 6 - Gairloch boat trip cancelled due to fog so, A832 and A835 to Ullapool, A894, A838 to Durness. Return to A894, A837 Lochinver, B869 Achmelvich Beach.

Day 7 - B869 clockwise round to A894, A835 back to Ullapool, A832 to Gairloch. Hebridean Whale cruise (lucky enough to see a fully breaching Minke whale and large dolphin pod) then A832, A890, A87, A82 to Glencoe.

Day 8 - West Highland railway - Fort william - Mallaig

Day 9 - Glencoe A82 to Glasgow, M898 (new bypass round?) M74, A66, A1M, M25 - home!

Total miles - 2074

Best MPG - 38
Worst 22 (track day tank)
Average around 34mpg - not bad for an 18 year old 1.8 being pushed fairly hard.

Mechanical problems - shot rear damper, snapped ARB droplink on day 9 and 1 litre of oil.

Human problems - sliced finger and 6 hours Worksop A&E, crap sleep in smelly hostel room, midge bites.

[matt3001]

Cheers for all of the help guys, great to here that it is sunny up there as well!

[vrsmxtb]

[url]

[Red Devil]

vrsmxtb said:

Day 7 - A82 to Glencoe.

Day 9 - Glencoe A82 to Glasgow

Wow - you were at Glencoe and no mention of the Scotsburgring?

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=56.698757,-5.067959&a...
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=56.706355,-5.046156&a...

Tarmac heaven.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6DtzutD3pY&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq_4tKKrJmU

[SmilerFTM]

I'm heading up to Scotland in the middle of September to do a big loop and was wondering if this route would be a good one? I'll be doing it over 6 days and so may have the chance to divert off this course a few times if the chance arises.

Any tips on improving it would be most welcome, including whether I should be doing it clockwise or anticlockwise.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=20138600067...

This is just a rough first draght at present, I'll also need to add in campsites to the route as I tweak it.

Edited by SmilerFTM on Tuesday 10th July 17:11

[plenty]

SmilerFTM said:

I'm heading up to Scotland in the middle of September to do a big loop

I and a few cronies are doing a similar loop clockwise next month. Your Highlands sections look good (although IMO Skye is a must if you are in the vicinity), but I'd suggest devoting a bit more time to the Dumfries/Galloway and Borders areas where there are some superlative drivers' roads if not quite as scenic as further north.

Also the A84/A85/A82 loop through the Trossachs is well worth it, and while I've not driven the A697 from Newcastle to Coldstream, the A696/A68 combination is hard to ignore.

PM me if you'd like more detailed info.

[vrsmxtb]

Red Devil said:

Wow - you were at Glencoe and no mention of the Scotsburgring?

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=56.698757,-5.067959&a...
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=56.706355,-5.046156&a...

Tarmac heaven.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6DtzutD3pY&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq_4tKKrJmU

Note made for next time...

[vrsmxtb]

SmilerFTM said:

I'm heading up to Scotland in the middle of September to do a big loop and was wondering if this route would be a good one? I'll be doing it over 6 days and so may have the chance to divert off this course a few times if the chance arises.

Any tips on improving it would be most welcome, including whether I should be doing it clockwise or anticlockwise.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=20138600067...

This is just a rough first draght at present, I'll also need to add in campsites to the route as I tweak it.

Edited by SmilerFTM on Tuesday 10th July 17:11

If you can squeeze it in I'd recommend the A837 / B869 loop then rejoining your route further up the A894. It's a slow windy road but very different from the surrounding countryside and some good campsites, for example Achmelvich beach.

[SmilerFTM]

plenty said:

I and a few cronies are doing a similar loop clockwise next month. Your Highlands sections look good (although IMO Skye is a must if you are in the vicinity), but I'd suggest devoting a bit more time to the Dumfries/Galloway and Borders areas where there are some superlative drivers' roads if not quite as scenic as further north.

Also the A84/A85/A82 loop through the Trossachs is well worth it, and while I've not driven the A697 from Newcastle to Coldstream, the A696/A68 combination is hard to ignore.

PM me if you'd like more detailed info.

PM sent and I've added the A84/85/82 into the journey.

[SmilerFTM]

vrsmxtb said:

If you can squeeze it in I'd recommend the A837 / B869 loop then rejoining your route further up the A894. It's a slow windy road but very different from the surrounding countryside and some good campsites, for example Achmelvich beach.

Done, route now looks like this with the two initial additions

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=20138600067...

I may even add in a loop around Skye as well at a later date

Edited by SmilerFTM on Tuesday 10th July 18:10

[vrsmxtb]

SmilerFTM said:

Done, route now looks like this with the two initial additions

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=20138600067...

Looks great, I'm not as familiar with the Cairngorm / eastern area but the west/north-west side looks spot on. Enjoy!

[SmilerFTM]

vrsmxtb said:

Looks great, I'm not as familiar with the Cairngorm / eastern area but the west/north-west side looks spot on. Enjoy!

Cheers, the route to Applecross I've put on is that the correct directions for the pass? I keep reading about it and hearing about so I want to make sure I don't miss it.

[GetCarter]

The Applecross 'circuit' is best done clockwise... driving up the steep bits you can get the tail out (if you dare), and you don't fry the brakes. Also, you get the best views down Loch Torridon after Applecross.

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